2003 Volvo Xc70 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train:automatic Transmission (4) · Air Bags (4) · Suspension:front (3)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Volvo Xc70 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
20 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (2)
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2021-10-14 · campaign 21V800000 · 194,546 vehicles
Defect: Volvo Cars USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2001-2007 V70 and XC70 vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 14, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-888-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10136.
Equipment:electrical:navigational System(Global Positioning System) 2010-11-08 · campaign 10V566000 · 416 vehicles
Defect: VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.
Risk: AN OVERHEATED BATTERY COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.
Fix: VOLVO ADVISES OWNERS TO PLEASE STOP USING THE GARMIN PORTABLE GPS DEVICE IMMEDIATELY, AND VISIT THE GARMIN WEBSITE TO DETERMINE IF THEIR UNIT IS AFFECTED. THE UNIT'S BATTERY WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW BATTERY AND A SPACER WILL BE INSERTED ON TOP OF THE BATTERY NEXT TO THE PCB. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 18, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN AT 866-957-1981 OR VISIT GARMIN'S WEBSITE AT WWW.GARMIN.COM/NUVIBATTERYPCBRECALL.
Service bulletins (175)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine 2026-04-23 · 35526.1.8 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a technical journal: text plus 2 pdfs and 1 .png oil consumption test. perform the test. follow service procedure description and service sections updated to clarify that vehicle reports are not required.
Unknown Or Other 2026-04-07 · 37809.1.1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a tj text only - the purpose of this tj is to be a master reference list to easily identify any components that are on prior approval. this tj will be regularily updated as items are added or removed from prior approval. current items under prior approval are listed in the "service" sec
Unknown Or Other 2025-12-06 · 19245 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a technical journal. vehicle type and platform identification.
Exterior Lighting 2025-04-10 · 8501 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a technical journal: remote connection, bomgar application. before joining a remote session: •connect a suitable battery maintainer/charger and verify that the battery voltage indicated in vida is between 12.5v and 14.9v. •connect to the vehicle over a wired connection using a voe
Unknown Or Other 2025-02-21 · S10303 · Service Campaign
volvo cars usa llc and volvo car canada ltd on behalf of the volvo car corporation has decided to launch service action s10303 on certain model year 2025 ex90 vehicles. volvo car investigations have identified that there is a pairing issue with the key fob. as a result, there is a possibil
Unknown Or Other 2025-02-13 · S10303 · Service Campaign
volvo cars usa llc and volvo car canada ltd on behalf of the volvo car corporation has decided to launch service action s10303 on certain model year 2025 ex90 vehicles. volvo car investigations have identified that there is a pairing issue with the key fob. as a result, there is a possibil
Showing the 6 most recent of 175 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2016-02-01 · Fuel/Propulsion System“tl* the contact owns a 2003 volvo xc70. the contact stated that there was an abnormal strong fuel odor coming from the vehicle. the contact also stated that the vehicle would experience hesitation with starting and driving. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the fuel pump had failed and needed to be replace…”
2015-12-23 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 140,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2003 volvo xc70. the contact stated that a strong fuel odor emitted inside and outside of the vehicle continuously however, there was no fuel visible on the ground. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and an independent mechanic, who both confirmed that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the m…”
2015-12-15 · Air Bags · 170,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2003 volvo xc70. when the vehicle was started, the air bag warning light illuminated continuously. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 170,000. …”
2015-01-12 · Air Bags · 170,000 mi · 💥 crash“while driving down the road, a car was attempting to make a left-hand turn across four lanes of traffic. the person, apparently, did not see me and struck the side of my vehicle breaking the tire rod and doing extensive damage to the passenger front and back doors. the glove box was even difficult to open. in all of this, the passenger side airba…”
2014-06-09 · Fuel System, Gasoline · 169,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2003 volvo xc70. the contact stated that the vehicle emitted a fuel odor. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing or repair. the manufacturer was notified. the failure mileage was 169,000. …”
2013-12-03 · Fuel System, Gasoline · 102,600 mi“i purchased this 2003 volvo xc70 recently and a few weeks after driving it i noticed a bad smell of gas. i looked around and did not see anything leaking. i kept driving daily and smelled gas every single time the car was on. i became very concerned because i drive with my 6 year old daughter in the car. after some time i noticed that there was a g…”
2013-05-01 · Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel · 115,105 mi“i was driving on the highway when suddenly my gas gauge dropped below empty and all my gauges stopped working including the clock, blinkers, speedometer and the digital information computer panel that indicates how many miles left to a gallon, etc. this was quite dangerous as i could no longer see the speed of travel, how much gas i had left, the t…”
2012-02-21 · Electrical System · 116,000 mi“i was driving my 2003 volvo xc70 at the posted speed limit (55mph) when the dashboard suddenly went black and all of the gauges, including speedometer, tachometer, gas gauge, and clock stopped working. every warning light lit up. the volvo dealer admitted they had seen this issue before. the cost to replace the dim was over $1400.00 and i had no…”
2011-09-27 · Power Train:automatic Transmission · 71,000 mi“i purchased my (2003) volvo xc70 in late 2006 from i service it regularly and do routine maintenance checks. about a month ago the car began to jerk and hesitate. i took it to the dealer and was told i needed a new transmission for $5700. the car has 71000 miles on it. *tt…”
2011-06-11 · Power Train:automatic Transmission · 100,000 mi“2003 volvo xc70 transmission failure in car with 100,000k miles. *tr …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.